I've said it once and I'll say it
again: I'm not a fan of noodles. I got a priceless reaction from my
friend whom I Whatsapped a photo of my ramen to. "YOU'RE EATING THAT
NOW?"
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Unlimited pickles: bean sprouts and kimchi-like veggies plus some raw garlic
|
As
in most places in Japan, service is fast and attentive. We were handed
the menus right away. Make sure you ask for the English ones though
because making out what pictures mean and wasting time reading
complicated kanji characters can really turn the anticipation to
anxiety.
I'm not sure how biases play out but I really enjoyed Ippudo's Tonkotsu
ramen. My fears of chain restaurants' diminishing food quality have been
dispelled. My faith in consumerism has been restored.
Since
this was my first time to eat at Ippudo, I couldn't go past their
signature Tonkotsu ramen. I had the Akamaru (red broth) Tonkotsu ramen
with the lot: Hakata-style thin noodles, spring onions, black fungus,
chashu slices and an onsen tamago.
When
eating ramen, one must nitpick on two things: noodles and broth. The
noodles were thin and firm, Ippudo's signature. The broth, well how can
you even be nitpicky on something that's been boiling for hours on end
attaining the perfect pork flavour reduction? You can't and you don't.
 |
| It's a huge win for me when they get an onsen tamago right. |
In
Japan, the famous (and proper) ramen joints charge at least a thousand
yen for a bowl so steer clear from the ones that charge anything less. At Ippudo Nagoya however, they have lunch time set specials that get you a
medium-sized bowl of ramen, a plate of gyoza and a bowl of white rice.
Not bad, hey? Them gyozas though. Best gyozas I've ever had. I couldn't
have picked a better debut meal to returning to my red meat-eating
roots.
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| Lunch set 850yen (+ for the egg) |
The only let-down of the experience was discovering they don't serve the infamous Ippudo
steamed buns
here in Japan. It was probably a Western added menu item to draw in
more crowds (this is just me speculating). Come a chilly day again in
Nagoya and I might just have another bowl.
Ippudo
3-22-26 Sakae
Naka Ward, Nagoya
+81 52-269-2412
